He turns 26 years old this week, and already operates three Downtown El Paso clothing stores and one in Juárez.

That's not enough. His goal is to some day have a chain of kids' clothing stores along the United States-Mexico border and have his own brand of women's jeans, he said.

"I don't like to stay in one place. I'm always going everywhere," including frequent trips to distributor showrooms in Los Angeles and Las Vegas to pick the latest styles of clothes for his stores, he said, flashing the braces on his teeth as he talked. "The key to a successful (clothing) business is to bring into your store something different than anyone else."

REPORTER

Vic Kolenc

His four stores operate as Andreas Fashion. But he plans to soon rebrand them as Grada — the first three letters of his mother's name, Graciela Monroy, and the first two letters of his name.

He grew up helping his mother in her Juárez kids clothing store, which she closed several years ago. She is his mentor and partner.

Five years ago after graduating from Cathedral High School and beginning pursuit of a business degree, the Juárez native struck out on his own with his first kids' clothing store at 625 S. El Paso St., down the street from the Santa Fe international bridge. His second kids' store opened in 2012 at 705 S. El Paso, but last year was converted to a women's clothing store. His Juárez kids' clothing store also opened in 2012.

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His mother helps manage the stores, including a kids' clothing store at 809 S. El Paso St., which she opened in 2009 and has merged into Burciaga's operations.

Sales for his stores at 625 and 705 S. El Paso St. were about $300,000 last year, Burciaga said. He projects sales to hit about $500,000 this year for all three El Paso stores. He gave no sales numbers for his Juárez store.

His early success will be honored at a Thursday luncheon when he will be given the Small Business Administration's Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for El Paso.

"His whole story impressed me," said Elvira Valles, a lender who nominated Burciaga for the SBA award. "His mother teaching him the (business) skills," his business sense, his ambition, and his natural talent to buy and negotiate clothing sales from manufacturers and distributors are things that impressed her, she said.

"I said, 'Wow, this young man has the spirit of entrepreneurship,' " said Valles, El Paso regional director of micro-lender Accion Texas, which has given Burciaga three loans, ranging from $13,500 to $36,000, to expand and operate his stores.

"His mother is the backbone of the businesses. But he has taken it to the next level," Valles said. "He understands his niche market, who he is buying for."

Burciaga's stores mostly cater to Mexican shoppers coming across the border. His first kids' store carries a lot of formal clothes and baptismal outfits. His women's store carries blouses, dresses, and jeans in continually changing styles.

The women's store is more difficult to operate because fashions change quickly, Burciaga said. Selling clothes at low prices is important for all the stores, he said.

"I like to pick the colors, cuts and styles. I know what my people (customers) like."

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 546-6421.

SBA El Paso award winners for 2014:

Small Business Persons of the Year: Adolfo Torres Jr., Misael Garcia, and Oscar Garcia, Custom Crates and Pallets Ltd., Canutillo

Family-Owned Business of the Year (regional winner): Daniel Morales and family, Big Boy Concessions Inc./Fruitiki Inc.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year: David Burciaga, Andreas Fashion.

Source: SBA's El Paso office

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What: SBA Awards luncheon

When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday

Where: Wyndham El Paso Airport Hotel, 2027 Airway

Tickets: $30 per person, through Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, or at door.